"Over-taxed" doesn't even begin to describe American society today. Between overt taxation at all levels of government and hidden taxation in various forms such as inflation, deficit spending and uncompensated regulatory takings, Americans spend more than half their income on taxes. We spend more of our time working for our goverment than a medieval serf of 500 years ago spent working for his lord!

The things we get in return for that money can be broken down into two categories: Things that the market, if left free to do so, could provide more cheaply and efficiently; and things we buy only under duress -- things that we wouldn't voluntarily buy even if they were for sale at our local department stores.

As President, I'll work to ease your tax burden. If I can get a tax eliminated, I will. If I can't get it eliminated, I'll strive to get it lowered.

- I'll veto any proposed increases in existing taxes. Period.

- I'll veto any proposed new taxes. Period.

- I'll veto any budget passed by Congress that is not in balance based on the previous year's revenues, not on rosy projections of future revenues. Period.

Yes, I know that Congress can override presidential vetos, and they very well may do just that. But I promise you -- no tax increase, no new tax, no deficit budget will be imposed on you over my signature.

As the American economy grows -- and with the policies of smaller government I advocate, that growth is certain to get faster -- federal revenues will go up without tax increases. As they do, I'll go to Congress each year with a budget proposal that splits those increased revenues right down the middle: Half into across-the-board income tax cuts for the following year, half into reduction of the national debt (which, unless addressed now, is effectively a tax on our children and grandchildren, levied in advance by spendthrift politicians).

I'll also be working diligently to cut spending, aside from simple balanced budget concerns. Our government is too big. It does too many things that it shouldn't be doing. As you can see from my other position papers, I want to stop it from doing those things -- and give the money that's being taken from you to do them back to you.

My goal is to eliminate the federal income tax. Until I can convince Congress to do that, I favor cutting the income tax in a way that's simple, fair and, as I said, "across the board."

My tax cut proposals won't come in the form of loopholes or deductions for special interests or "the rich." They won't come in the form of hokey "better ways" of assessing and collecting taxes, such as the mis-named "Fair Tax." They'll come as real tax cuts in the form of increases to the "personal exemption." Every year, every American will be able to earn more income before the federal government tries to take any tax. Every year, more Americans, earning more money, will fall off the income tax rolls completely, and those who don't will be taxed less.

When it comes to eliminating the income tax, many people have told me that that's impossible -- that it would amount to an unthinkable, fundamental reorganization of American society. But America survived without an income tax until 1913. That's more than half of our nation's history! And it wasn't until World War II that the income tax became a major factor in government finance, or that the government began "automatically withholding" taxes from your weekly paycheck.

Historically speaking, the income tax as we know it has been a short-term experiment, and in my opinion it's been a failed experiment. I don't see why it should be "unthinkable" to take a step backward from that "fundamental reorganization of American society." Not only do I consider it eminently thinkable, I consider it common sense. And I'll do my best to make it happen.

(This is the order I will sign after delivering my inaugural address)

Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 2009, which becomes effective on January 20th, 2009, among other things eliminates the Drug Enforcement Administration in the Department of Justice. In my message to the Congress and to the nation transmitting that plan, delivered this day immediately following my inauguration, I stated that all functions of the Drug Enforcement Administration (established pursuant to Executive Order No. 11727 of July 6, 1973), would, together with the Drug Enforcement Administration itself, be eliminated.

NOW, THEREFORE, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. The Attorney General, to the extent permitted by law, is ordered and authorized to coordinate the cessation of all activities of executive branch departments and agencies which are directly related to the enforcement of unconstitutional laws respecting narcotics and dangerous drugs; the reimbursement of all unused funds in the accounts of those departments and agencies which are directly related to the enforcement of unconstitutional laws respecting narcotics and dangerous drugs, to the national treasury; and the reassignment or termination of employment of non-appointed employees whose jobs are directly related to the enforcement of unconstitutional laws respecting narcotics and dangerous drugs. Each department and agency of the Federal Government shall, upon request and to the extent permitted by law, assist the Attorney General in the performance of functions assigned to him pursuant to this order, and the Attorney General may, in carrying out those functions, utilize the services of any other agencies, Federal and State, as may be available and appropriate.

Section 2. Presidential appointees whose jobs are directly related to the enforcement of unconstitutional laws respecting narcotics and dangerous drugs, and who serve at the pleasure of the President, are hereby dismissed. Presidential appointees whose jobs are directly related to the enforcement of unconstitutional laws respecting narcotics and dangerous drugs, and who serve for specified terms, are hereby notified that they shall not be re-appointed at the expirations of those terms.

Section 3. The Attorney General, to the extent permitted by law, is ordered and authorized to coordinate the operations of all US Attorneys in the District of Columbia, the several states, and all US territories, for the purpose of ending the practice of levying federal charges for violations of unconstitutional laws respecting narcotics and dangerous drugs; and for moving, in courts where existing cases are being heard, for dismissal of all such cases with prejudice.

Section 4. The Attorney General is ordered and authorized to constitute and operate a board for the purpose of auditing the criminal justice system, with the purpose of identifying all individuals currently incarcerated, on probation, on parole, or previously convicted of violations of unconstitutional laws respecting narcotics and dangerous drugs; and to create and operate an expedited process of submission of these individuals' names to the President of the United States for pardon and restoration of rights, or for reduction of sentence in such part as may be attributable solely to violations of unconstitutional laws respecting narcotics and dangerous drugs.

Section 5. The Attorney General is ordered and authorized to constitute and appoint a volunteer citizens' commission for the purpose of studying, and publishing a report on, the case for, the projected costs of, and the possible funding sources for, the payment of restitution to Americans prosecuted for or convicted of violating, incarcerated for violating, or harassed under color of, unconstitutional laws respecting narcotics and dangerous drugs. This commission shall include among its number, in a proportion of at least one third, Americans reasonably described as due such restitution. The commission shall have one full year to deliberate and report.

Sec. 6. This order shall be effective as of January 20, 2009.

Signed,

Steve Wynn Kubby
President of The United States